In chemistry, ionic bonding occurs among elements of differently charged atoms, one completing the outer shell of another by giving a free electron. Much of the nature of compounds with this kind of bonding is determined by the movements of their electrons. Silph Arena seems to have been inspired by this chemical phenomenon, taking the spirit of that and putting it into a themed cup, the one for this month. That themed cup is appropriately called "Ionic" in that respect.
This themed cup, like the chemical compounds whose bonding nature inspire it, has some order. A team requires an Electron, one of six Electric-type Pokémon (Ampharos, Dedenne, Electivire, Luxray, Minun, or Raikou). A team may also have one Proton and one Neutron, each of these from a select group of six Pokémon with attractive characteristics. The rest of the team is filled out by a "wild card" list of Pokémon that total only 30 species. The full lists for the other variable picks can be seen on the official page of the themed cup.
Because of the strictly limited number of included Pokémon species and the segregation of them into slots, some things are readily apparent. The Electron slot is obviously required and is a free choice. The Proton and Neutron slots may seem to be optional, but it serves as the only way to access the Fighting type pick of Poliwrath or Hisuian Sneasel, or even Beedrill or Ariados as Bug types; it's also a way to access some Dark type species and should be chosen. The rest of the team ought to be composed of a Bug-type, Water-type, and Normal-type Pokémon, after which the choice is up to the Trainer to make.
Certainly, insights can be gleaned from the development notes for the themed cup. The intent of the system is to allow free choices without restricting one's teams. To that end, the theme was built up in stages to have some Pokémon in certain offensive and defensive roles, ending up with the "curated" lists. In effect, this worked out to resemble (or take inspiration from) the Architect theme, which is similarly limited in the scope of Pokémon species. It should allow for variative picks for Trainers with the limited selection.
Evidently, Trainers will have to get "atomic" with this theme, picking out not only the Pokémon species that they can muster but also a few that is allowed by the theme to have a stable formation that can then serve to react and neutralize those of others when they become reactive. Such is the nature of ions in chemistry, and that seems to have been translated well in this themed cup through its restrictions; experimentation is certainly on order with this theme as it is for the branch of science that inspires its title.
One year ago: Need Some Help, Game Freak?
Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/6/2021
Three years ago: Tell Me Why, My Brother
Four years ago: (Make Way for a) Local EX Raid, 3/6/2019
Five years ago: Bipeds and Quadrupeds
Six years ago: Ride the Pokémon
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